Do you often actively seek inspiration or does it find you? Or is it a combination of the two?
As a woman of faith, I actively seek inspiration and it finds me because I am open to receiving it. My purpose in life is to inspire others and help them to raise the consciousness of others to a higher level of awareness, love, peace and harmony. When creating my works, I listen to the still small voice within me guiding my every action to create one of a kind pieces. During meditation, ideas come in the form of visions or tiny pictures to bring about most of my wall and glass sculptures.
What led you to your art form?
What led me to art is an epiphany in the spring of 2005 when a type of awakening happened that I had never known. A high vibration of consciousness was born inside of me and the work began. This is when I discovered my purpose and I began creating a new found form of art work using various recycled materials being discarded. One such incident happen when I created a unique fence using antique iron bed frames. An elderly men from Tomball, Texas, stops to ask me about the fence and how did I come up with the idea to create it and I explain to him how it had come about. He then told me that he had been collecting these bed frames and refurbishing them for many years. He stated that many of them could not be refurbished due to missing rails, headboard but no footboard, or damaged beyond repair. He told me that I could get them if I thought I could do something with them. We set a time to meet the next day and upon arrival I could not believe my eyes that these old beds are lying in the dirt in his backyard. In my excitement the art and what to do with them start popping into ideas and thus the iron wall divas were created. I purchased three truckloads of beds frames and resurrected them into unique sculptures. My journey of life brought us together to assist with my purpose and to recycle these beds and keep them from being scrap metal.
Have you and your artistry ever been involved in traditional business?
Yes, I have been an antique dealer, sales woman and a collector of various unique glass antique items for over 35 years. I have been fond of old metal beds as a child growing up sleeping in them. There was always a connection or love for them. I bought them for my children to sleep in, so the bed art arrived from this connectivity of having them be a part of my life. The bed fence art came from a security need to enclose the glass garden art work. Not wanting a traditional type of fence, I recycled old beds to create a beautiful bed fence and the “Wall Divas,” created from antique beds were born.
In addition to mastering their art, what other skill sets do you recommend that artists develop if they want to be successful?
I believe that the skill of knowing who you are is very important and loving who you are will help anyone be successful in life. As a visionary artist my skill comes from listening to the inner voice within and trusting that what I am doing now is my purposed journey. When people see my work, they tell me what and how it makes them feel. This is important to me because it lets me know that I have connected with the inner spirit within them. We will always remember how someone made us feel. They express excited feelings of love, joy, peace, harmony and inspiration and to me this is success that’s most important. Every artist should copyright their work. It adds value and provides some protection from those seeking to copy. It has been said that copying is the highest form of flattery but I do not believe this to be a truth. I have had others copy my work and they are making millions while I do not and I fail to see the flattery in that.
How do you stay at the leading edge of your craft?
Staying at the leading edge of my craft is easy because I am known as a visionary or outside the box artist, therefore not a lot of competition for me because others copy my work. I just continue to create original works of art to stay at the leading edge. My light expressions are fun creations that light up using various types of lighting and create beautiful unique sculptures ‘of art.
Do you think that there are any widely held misconceptions about art and/or artists? If so, what are they and how do you work to dispel them?
It is my deepest belief that art is a spiritual expression of the inner being. As human beings, we ourselves are art created by the Master Artist. The beauty of life is the canvas of God’s divine hand of spiritual life in color. Anything can be a misconception when it comes to art or artists. Everyone expresses art in some way or another because we all came from a place of conscious creation which is art derived as thought.
How do you map out your goals? How do you measure your success?
I journal often and keep notes about daily things to do. In terms of measuring my success, I have grown as an artist and moved into a historical fire station that I renovated into an art gallery. For an African American woman to have an old fire station as a gallery is not something that happens often, if ever. My goal writing is not typical. I write from my ideas that come from the spirit. Living in the now or present moment and doing the very best that I can to bring about inspiration to others is key for me. By doing this daily, I believe that it keeps me focused on my purpose in life to bring joy to others using my creative gift.
Who do you consider to be your peers in your field?
The one person that comes to mind for me is Jean-Michel Basquiat who was an artist with visionary range that was from a higher dimension. He was truly ahead of his time and some of his works are priceless.
Name two of your top role models: one in the art world and one from outside of it?
One of my role models is Michelle Obama, of whom I created a wall diva from her strength, intellect, charm and bangs. I named her “First Lady Michelle ‘O.’” It took me five years to create her. My next role model would be Jesus Christ, who shows all the power of the mind, thoughts, love, forgiveness, and a new true way of thinking that change the world.
Name three books, works, performances or exhibits that changed how you view life, yourself or both.
The three books that help to change my life are; 1. The Bible, 2. The Metaphysical Dictionary and the Life & Teaching of the Master of the Far East. All of these books help me to raise my vibrational consciousness to a higher level of awakening. They taught me the true power of humanity is love, imagination, compassion and the importance of knowing my I AM reality of God within me.
Why do you consider continued learning important?
Continued learning is important because it is something that none of us ever stop doing. From the day we are born, learning starts. Even in the womb, we are learning. Learning is what we were designed to do as co-creator we will never stop learning via life experiences keep us always on a path of learning. Higher education is a wonderful gift and something that I advocate but learning does not stop once one graduate from college or any other area training. As a mother, I always expressed to my children that knowledge is a key essential in the journey of life. I also taught them that not just what you learn in books, but what one learns from self-experience and the experiences of others can teach most valuable lessons.
What affirmations do you repeat to yourself that contribute to your success?
Some affirmations that I repeat to myself are: I am Kind, I am one with God, I am the master of my life and money, I am love, I am joy and I am abundance, I am wealth, I am peace, I am happy, I am a world-famous artist, I am guided by the Divine to my ultimate happiness. My soul is peaceful, my body is healthy, and my mind is brilliant, I radiate love, charm and beautify where ever I am, I am grateful for everything that comes to me, I am blessed and highly favored by the Divine and others of the same. I use the I Am power because it is who the creator of all is.
What role does art have in the community? What role would you like to see art to play in the community?
The community where I have my art gallery located is called the Independence Heights, a historical African American place that has no art gallery except for the one that I have created. Bringing art to the community has made a real difference in that it has provided a sense of pride and joy. Everyday people express how much they like the garden and art. They stop to look with smiles and laughter and feelings of joy. To have an art gallery and garden with glass sculptures of beautiful colors in a garden setting is different. Most in the community seeing it for the first time express being inspired and that it lifts their spirit. They are excited, not knowing what to make of an art gallery in their neighborhood. It gives them something positive to talk about and when passing it give them feelings of joy, peace, and happiness. The Inspirational Art Garden has a positive influence on everyone that sees it because its conception came from the place of creative love and joy.
What role does technology play in your day-to-day life? How do you utilize it?
Often I use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other such social media to help bring awareness to my gallery. My computer is a necessity and I use it daily to connect to many other sources to promote my work.
A website for inspirationalartgarden.com is our website address. Some information is being reworked at this time.
Click the gallery below for pictures.
